Kirtland's Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024
Prairie Warbler, Murphy town, Abaco, Jan 16, 2024
The forecast for the day I was leaving changed at the last minute and the snow moved in earlier than predicted just a half day before which resulted in some delays in Hartford on my way to Atlanta and then onto Marsh Harbor. Thankfully I picked a flight that had a couple hour layover so I still made the second leg of the journey with a few minutes to spare. After a few more weather delays in Atlanta (thanks to a frozen door on the jetway and the need to get the plane deiced) I made it to Abaco. I picked up my rental, headed to the supermarket and then onto my Airbnb. I wanted to stay south of Marsh Harbor but a cancellation a few weeks ago at my original lodging I had to settle for a spot in town. I birded a little in the neighborhood and turned up a few overwintering species. Although a bit breezy it was at least warm with temps in the 70’s.
Bahama Yellowthroat, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024
Olive capped Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024
Cuban Pewee, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024
Pine lands at dawn, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024
The Toyota POS, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024
Atala Hairstreak, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024
Cuban Parrots (Bahama subspecies), Crossing Rocks, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024
Western Spindalis (Bahamas Green-backed), Bahama Palm Shores, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024
Yellow throated Warbler, Bahama Palm Shores, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024
Thick billed Vireo, Bahama Palm Shores, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024
Black faced Grassquit, Bahama Palm Shores, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024
My plans for the first full day on the island was to get up well before dawn and drive almost an hour south to Abaco National Park. As I headed out the door a little before five it was obvious it had rained hard at some point overnight. The drive south on the wet roads with puddles was less than relaxing and I had to deal with a little additional rain from time to time. I did add a Chuck Wills Widow on the way (my first new Bahamas species for the trip). I arrived at the entrance to the park a bit before six and waited for it to get light enough to see to start my walk for a few miles south on the dirt road. If I had a better vehicle with more clearance it would have been easier to get further south but I was stuck with what I had for a vehicle. One of the first birds I heard for the morning were a couple of Bahama Yellowthroats. I got some recordings and a few looks but no chance for any photos (I did get much better looks and some photos a bit later in the morning). I spent the next three hours walking the road and only had to deal with a few passing showers as I turned up about twenty species, including several Cuban Parrots (Bahama subspecies) and nine species of warblers. I made brief visit to the very end of the island at Sandy Point, which was quite windy and fairly barren of bird life. I then spent the next four plus hours slowly working my way back north to my lodging with multiple stops along the way. I added several species for the day along the way (including two new species for my Bahamas list with West Indian Woodpecker and Western Cattle Egret) and finished the day with 39 species.
Bahama Woodstar, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024
Red legged Thrush, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024
Bahama Yellowthroat, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024
Cuban Emerald, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024
Bananaquit, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024
Ovenbird, Robert's Nursery, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024
Yellow throated Vireo, Robert's Nursery, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024
American Redstart, Robert's Nursery, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024
Common Ground Doves, Columbus Cay Eco Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024
Northern Waterthrush, Columbus Cay Eco Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024
Lincoln's Sparrow, Treasure Cay, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024
Black faced Grassquit, Murphy Town, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024
Magnificent Frigatebird, Murphy Town, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024
La Sagra's Flycatcher, Murphy Town, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024
For my second full day on the island I decided to head north all the way to Treasure Cay and see what the north end of the island had to offer. The morning started off overcast and breezy and eventually some drizzle started up. I was able to get in a few walks before a more steady rain began and added two new species to my Bahamas list with Tricolored Heron and Eastern Phoebe. As the rain continued to fall I made a few more stops but did not venture far from the car. These stops were also productive with some shorebirds and waterfowl. By around 9:30 the rain stopped and I was able to take some longer walks in the area of Treasure Cay. Among the highlights was the first life bird of the trip with distant views of a couple Bahama Swallows (life bird #1994). I also added a few more species to my Bahama list including a rare Lincoln’s Sparrow plus Yellow throated Vireo, Willet and Baltimore Oriole. I made it back to my lodging in the early afternoon and the sun actually stayed out for a good part of the rest of the day. Overall I found a total of 52 species for day.
Dawn over Pinelands, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024
Bahama Swallow, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024
West Indian Woodpecker, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024
Loggerhead Kingbird, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024
Black throated Green Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024
Bahama Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024
Olive capped Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024
Western Spindalis (Bahamas Green-backed), Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024
Kirtland's Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024
Kirtland's Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024
Kirtland's Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024
My plans for the last full day on Abaco was to make the drive back down to Abaco National Park before dawn and then walk south to the end to get out of the pine lands and into an area that might host an overwintering Kirtland’s Warbler. It would be a long shot chance for sure that would require at least a ten mile hike one way. I was out the door early on a very humid morning that featured some low fog in spots that made the journey more adventurous. I got a caution light on the car when I was perhaps 2/3 of the way but after stopping and trying to figure it out I started the car back up and the light went out. I almost turned back at that point but decided to press on. I made it to the park a little after six and drove in perhaps two miles over rough dirt roads and then stopped and started the hike down with all my gear and lots of water (which was still not enough). I walked steadily down with not much stopping along the way to look for birds with most tallied along the way as heard only. The best bird by far on the way down was a distantly calling Key West Quail Dove, which became species 1995 for me. I eventually made it out of the pine lands after a little over four hours of walking and about ten miles distance. I then walked another hour or so in the blazing sun in the area I hoped would have a Kirtland’s Warbler. I made it to within sight of the lighthouse and then turned back with no luck. I knew I still had to retrace all my steps back to the car and I didn’t want to arrive back too late in case the car had issues getting me back north to my lodging. As I started my walk back I heard a loud chip that sounded unlike others I have heard and after a few moments I got fleeting looks at a Kirtland’s Warbler! I then spent the next 15 minutes or so trying to get some photos and recordings and at that point I noticed there were two Kirtland’s Warblers and not just one. Although I had the species way back when on their breeding grounds in Michigan when I made a day long drive to get them when I was in Ohio I had never gotten photos of them before. I then made the long slog back to the car where I arrived tired, thirsty and with some blisters after walking over 23 miles total…almost a marathon but worth the pain and effort for sure. The chances of coming across an overwintering Kirtland’s Warbler in the vast habitat was quite small so I felt incredibly lucky. I made a couple more brief stops on my way home and added some species for the trip as well as new Bahama species for me…getting me to 99 species ever in the Bahamas and a total of 41 species for the day.
I had a few hours available on my last morning before making the short flight to Miami. I decided to not push my luck with the crappy car by driving anywhere so I walked around the neighborhood. Nothing out of the ordinary but I did add my 100th species to my Bahama list with a couple of Limpkins.
During my short time in the Bahamas I found a total of 74 species with two of the those being life birds for me (Bahama Swallow and Key West Quail Dove). I had 18 new species I was able to add to my Bahama list, bringing that total to a nice and even 100 species.
All photos from trip at the following link.
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